Filing equipment



March 9, 1965 R. P. GILLOTTE FILING EQUIPMENT Filed May 17, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l \JZQ &

I I 1 w T W I"! N W w 1 II: 11:1 *1 u INVENTOR mamas/440772,

f I ATTORNEY5 March 9, 1965 R. P. GILLOTTE 3,172,711

FILING EQUIPMENT Filed May 17, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Q11, 0w, MMrM ATTORNE Z5 March 1965 R. P. GILLOTTE FILING EQUIPMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 17, 1962 BY QM, an,

United States Patent 3,172,711 BEING EQUHMENT Robert P. Gillette, Chappells, $.C. Filed May 17, 1962, Ser. No. 195,512 9 Claims. (G. 312184) This invention relates to Piling Equipment, and more particularly, to means for adapting various storage structures for use with suspended folder filing systems.

The suspended folder filing system has become increasingly popular and the demand for such type of filing systems has greatly increased. Rather than to incur the expense of purchasing entirely new cabinets for use with this system, it has been the practice to modify existing storage structures so that the suspended folder system may be used with the cabinets or other structures presently in use. This conversion requires attaching means in the cabinets to support members extending across the cabinet from which the suspended folders may be hung.

This often requires considerable time and labor, and in some instances, it is necessary to weld the supporting members to the cabinets. This procedure often times ruins the appearance of the cabinets.

Also, since the cabinets or other storage structures are constructed in many different ways by the various manufacturers, it is necessary for the workman to make the supporting members when he installs them. Such an arrangement is very inefiicient and undesirable.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to overcome these problems.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a standard kit which may be assembled and applied to any standard structure quickly and easily.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a kit for adapting cabinets or other structures for use with the suspended folder filing system which includes a pinrality of supporting members adapted to fit the various standard makes of structures.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a bracket constructed so that the same bracket may be utilized at each end of a structure to support hanger rods extending therebetween.

These objects may be accomplished, according to certain embodiments of this invention, by providing an adapter unit having support means constructed to fit various makes of cabinets, racks or other storage structures, and a bracket which may be secured to the support means. The bracket is provided with means, at each end thereof, to support hanger rods which in turn support suspended files.

A support member may be attached to each side Wall of the cabinet or rack with a bracket secured thereto.

The bracket is adapted so that the hanger rods may be in serted into the bracket after the brackets and the support members are installed in the cabinet or rack. One end of the bracket has an aperture therein and the other end has a notch therein to receive the ends of the hanger rods. When the brackets are installed in the cabinet or rack, the notch in one bracket is disposed opposite the aperture in the other bracket. In this manner, after the support members with the brackets attached thereto are secured at opposite sides of the cabinet or rack, one end of a hanger rod may be inserted first into the aperture of the bracket and then the other end of the hanger rod may be lowered into the slotted end of the other bracket. other hanger rod may be aflixed to the brackets in a similar manner. The cabinet or rack is now ready to receive the suspended folders.

These embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the adapter unit in place in a particular cabinet with suspended folders hanging therefrom;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a disassembled unit with the components in their respective positions relative to one another;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective View of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bracket and the support member shown in FIG. 3 with the means for securing the bracket to the support member;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a further embodiment of the adapter unit in place in a shelving structure; and

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of still a further embodiment of the adapter unit in place in a particular cabinet.

The cabinet 10, showns in FIGS. 1 and 3, is a conventional storage cabinet commonly used in ofiices. The cabinet has a top 11, rear wall 12 and side walls 13 and 14. This cabinet is provided with sliding doors 16. The adapter unit 18 is shown supported in the cabinet with folders F, hanging therefrom.

The adapter unit 18 includes a pair of brackets 2% which are adapted to support a pair of hanger rods 22 extending therebetween. The hanger rods 22 may be formed of any suitable material, such as metal tubing.

Each bracket 26 includes a flat body portion 23, FIGS. 2 and 4, having a pair of apertures 24 therein. The one end 26 of the bracket 20 is formed in a substantially U- shaped configuration and has an aperture 28 through the bight portion. The other end 30 of the bracket 20 is also formed in a substantially U-shaped configuration and has a notch 32therein opening to the upper edge of the bight portion.

FIG. 2 shows the adapter unit 18 disassembled with the various components in their relative positions. When the brackets are positioned in this manner, an aperture 28 in one bracket 20 is disposed oppositely to a notch 32 in the other bracket 20 and a notch 32 in the first-mentioned bracket is disposed oppositely an aperture 28 in the other bracket.

One end of one hanger rod 22 may be insertedthrough an aperture 28 of the one end 26 of the first bracket 20 and the other end may then be lowered into the notch 32 in the end 30 of the other bracket 20. The other hanger rod 22 may be inserted in a similar manner.

Support members are provided, which are adapted to fit in a particular structure, to secure the adapter unit in place in the structure.

In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1 through 4, a support member 34 is adapted to be used in the particular cabinet 14). The cabinet 19 has vertical corner posts 35 having a plurality of slots 36 therein. The slots 36 are for supporting shelves (not shown) at various positions in the cabinet 10.

The support member 34 consists of an elongated strap of metal or other suitable material having a pair of apertures 38 and having its ends 4b twisted to the main body portion thereof. The ends 40 are also bent so that their edges 41 lie substantially flush with the main body portion. This permits the main body portion of the support member 34- to abut the side wall of the cabinet 10 when inserted therein.

' A bracket 20 is attached to a support member 34 by means of bolts or other suitable fastening means 29 extending through apertures 24 and 38. When the bracket 2% is secured to the support member 34, as shown in FIG. 3, the bight portions of the ends 26 and 34 are spaced somewhat from the body of the support member 34."

This permits the hanger rods 22 to extend into and to be supported in the ends of the bracket 20.

A support member 34 is then inserted on one side wall 13 of the cabinet 10 with its ends 49 slipping into the slots 36 in the corner posts 35. A second supporting member 34 with a bracket 20 secured thereto is supported on the opposite side wall 14 of the cabinet It) by inserting its ends into the slots 36 in the adjacent corner posts 35. The hanger rods 22 are then inserted in thebrackets 20 in the manner described above. The cabinet 16 is now ready for use as in a suspended filing folder system.

The apertures 38 may be positioned closer to one end of the support member 34 than to the other end so that the filing folders may be suspended closer to the front or the back of the cabinet as desired.

This provides for considerable versatility of the adapter. When the cabinet is very deep, the support members 34 may be installed with the apertures closer to the front of the cabinet so that the suspended folders will be accessible readily, as shown in FIG. 1. If the cabinet is not very deep, the support members 34 may be installed with the apertures close to the rear of the cabinet so that the suspended folders will not protrude beyond the front of the cabinet.

Another embodiment is disclosed in FIG. wherein a different form of support member, designated 42, is provided for supporting the unit in a different type of cabinet.

The support member 42 has one end 43 bent laterally, as at 44, and the other end 45 bent at a right angle to the body portion of the support member. In somes types of cabinets, the forward edges of the side walls are provided with solid vertical posts. The support member 42 is thus adapted so that the one end 43 may be secured to the post and the other end 45 to the rear wall of the cabinet by means of screws extending through apertures 46 provided in each end. The support member 42 is bent so that the main body portion rests flush against the side wall of the cabinet.

It is a still further embodiment, asshown in FIG. 6, wherein support members 48- are provided to support the adapter unit in a shelving type structure 49.

Each support member 48 is provided at each end thereof with elongated slots 50. The elongated slots 56 accommodate for any variance in the positioning of the bolts 52 on the shelving structure, which secure the support member 48 to the shelving structure 49.

This type of adapter may also be used in a particular cabinet wherein a pair of rows of vertical support hooks are provided on each side wall of the cabinet. The slots 50 wouldengage the hooks and maintain the support member 48 securely. against the side .wall of the cabient.

In some instances when the reach of the hanger rods 22 is of considerable length, it may be desirable to provide an intermediate support 54. The intermediate support 54 consists of an elongated strap formed substantially the same as the support member 48. The intermediate support 54 has its ends adapted to be secured to the cabinet or shelving structure in the same manner as the support member with which it is to be used. In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 6, the ends are provided with elongated slots 56 the same as the ends of the support member 48. The intermediate support 54 has a pair of apertures 58 which are large enough to permit passage therethrough of the hanger rods 22.

A still further embodiment of the invention is disclosed in' FIG. 7. Each support member 60 has its opposite ends 62 bent at right angles to the main body portion and are provided with apertures 64. In the particular type of structure 66 disclosed in FIG. 7, there is provided a plurality of vertically spaced shelf. supports 68 on one vertical edge of the side wall 69 of the cabinet. The supports 68 are spaced apart sufiiciently to receive therebetween the end 62 of the support member 60, as shown in FIG. 7. The other vertical edge of the side wall 69 of the structure 66 is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced small clips 70. The other end of the support member 60 may be supported on a clip 70, as shown in FIG. 7.

In some instances, there are no clips provided at the one vertical edge of the side wall 69 of the filing structure. In this event, a screw may be inserted through the aperture 64 in the end of the support member 60 to secure the end of the support member to the filling structure. Also, in some instances, it may be necessary to use screws at both ends of the support member 69 to secure the adapter unit in a cabinet or other structures.

It is intended to manufacture the support members in various shapes, sizes and lengths to accommodate all sizes and types of conventional makes of cabinets or other filing structures.

It will be readily apparent that with the adapter units described above, various types of cabinets or racks or other structures may be easily and readily adapted for use with the suspended folder filing system. There is very little work required on the job site. Once it has been determined what type of structure is to be converted, the appropriate support member is selected and the Workman sent out to install the system in the structure.

Because the support members are constructed to fit the particular type of structure to which it is applied, it is not necessary for any welding, and in most instances, it is not necessary to drill any holes in the side of the structure thus detracting from the looks of the structure.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in certain embodiments, it is recognized that other variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a storage structure having shelf supporting means disposed on its interior, means for adapting said storage structure for use with suspended folder filing system comprising a pair of support members and a pair of brackets, means to secure one of said brackets to each of said support members, said support members having their ends adapted to cooperate with the shelf support means of said structure to support said support members in spaced relation therein, a pair of hanger rods, one end of each bracket having an aperture therein and the other end of each bracket having a notch therein to support said hanger rods extending therebetween.

2. A11 adapter unit for supporting a suspended folder filing structure in a cabinet comprising a pair of brackets and a pair of hanger rods extending between said brackets, a pair of elongated support members, means for securing said brackets and support members together, each of said brackets having sockets in alignment with corresponding sockets in the opposite bracket for receiving said rods, said support members having means for mounting their opposite ends in a cabinet, whereby the support members cooperate with the cabinet to support the brackets and the hanger rods.

3. An adapter unit to convert a storage structure having means for supporting shelves into a suspended folder filing structure, comprising a pair of support members, each support member having means on its ends for supporting said member by said shelf supporting means, a pair of brackets, means for securing a bracket to each of said support members, a pair of hanger rods, said brackets having bight portions at each opposite end, said bight portions of each bracket having means for supporting a hanger rod, whereby the adapter readily converts conventional storage structures to suspended folder filing structure.

4. An adapter unit to convert a storage structure having means for supporting shelves into a suspended folder filing structure, comprising a pair of support members, each support member having means on its ends for supporting said member by said shelf supporting means, a pair of brackets, means for securing a bracket to each of said support members, a pair of hanger rods, said brackets having bight portions at each opposite end, one

of said bight portions of each bracket having an aperture therein and the other bight portion of each bracket having a notch therein, said hanger rods each having one end supported in a bracket aperture and the opposite end supported in a notch, whereby the apertures support one end of the hanger rods and the notches receive the opposite end of the hanger rods.

5. An adapter unit for supporting a suspended folder filing structure in a cabinet comprising a pair of brackets and a pair of hanger rods extending between said brackets, a pair of elongated support members, and means for securing said brackets and support members together, each of said brackets having sockets in alignment with corresponding sockets in the opposite bracket for receiving said rods, each of said support members having its opposite ends twisted at substantially right angles to the body portion of the support member for mounting said opposite ends in a cabinet, whereby the support members cooperate with the cabinet to support the brackets and the hanger rods.

6. An adapter unit for supporting a suspended folder filing structure in a cabinet comprising a pair of brackets and a pair of hanger rods extending between said brackets, a pair of elongated support members, and means for securing said brackets and support members together, each of said brackets having sockets in alignment with corresponding sockets in the opposite bracket for receiving said rods, each of said support members having a transverse bend at each opposite end, said opposite ends extending at right angles to the body portion of the support member for mounting said opposite ends in a cabinet, whereby the support members cooperate with the cabinet to support the brackets and the hanger rods.

7. An adapter unit for supporting a suspended folder filing structure in a cabinet comprising a pair of brackets and a pair of hanger rods extending between said brackets, a pair of elongated support members, and means for securing said brackets and support members together, each of said brackets having sockets in alignment with corresponding sockets in the opposite bracket for receiving said rods, each of said support members having an elongated slot at each opposite end for mounting said opposite ends in a cabinet, whereby the support members cooperate with the cabinet to support the brackets and the hanger rods.

8. An adapter unit for supporting a suspended folder filing structure in a cabinet comprising a pair of brackets and a pair of hanger rods extending between said brackets, a pair of elongated support members, and means for securing said brackets and support members together, each of said brackets having sockets in alignment with corresponding sockets in the opposite bracket for receiving said rods, each of said support members having at least one end bent laterally of the body portion, said bent end being in a plane substantially parallel to a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the body portion of the support member, whereby the sup port members cooperate with the cabinet to support the brackets and the hanger rods.

9. In combination with a storage structure having posts with a plurality of slots therein for supporting shelves, means for adapting said storage structure for use with a suspended folder filing structure comprising a pair of support members and a pair of brackets, means to secure one of said brackets to each of said support members, each of said support members having its opposite ends twisted at substantially right angles to the body portion of the support member for mounting said opposite ends in said slots, and a pair of hanger rods, one end of each bracket having an aperture therein and the other end of each bracket having a notch therein to support said hanger rods extending therebetween.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 894,748 7/08 Scott 5-238 1,050,409 1/ 13 Wadsworth 312-184 X 1,194,536 8/16 Oliver 312-184 X 1,252,516 1/18 Videgaray 312-321 X 1,434,220 10/22 Morris 312-351 X 1,851,192 3/32 Lange 312-351 X 2,253,788 8/41 Kern 312184 X 2,691,502 10/54 Jones 312108 X 2,955,715 10/60 Carlson 211-182 X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

2. AN ADAPTED UNIT FOR SUPPORTING A SUSPENDED FOLDER FILING STRUCTURE IN A CABINET COMPRISING A PAIR OF BRACKETS AND A PAIR OF HANGER RODS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID BRACKETS, A PAIR OF ELONGATED SUPPORT MEMBERS, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID BRACKETS AND SUPPORT MEMBERS TOGETHER, EACH OF SAID BRACKETS HAVING SOCKETS IN ALIGNMENT WITH CORRESPONDING SOCKETS IN THE OPPOSITE BRACKET FOR RECEIVING SAID RODS, SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS HAVING MEANS FOR MOUNTING THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS IN A CABINET WHEREBY THE SUPPORT MEMBERS COOPERATE WITH THE CABINET TO SUPPORT THE BRACKETS AND THE HANGER RODS. 